Tennis: Scorching Coria justifies his ranking

Any player keen on wrapping his hands round the trophy for the Auckland men's event this week will need to get past an Argentine wall.

Top seed Guillermo Coria presented his credentials before a packed centre court yesterday by dispatching a former Heineken Open champion, Sjeng Schalken, 6-0, 6-3.

It was an immensely impressive display from the world No 7. Schalken was not at the top of his game - he was 11th in the world 20 months ago before a lengthy bout of glandular fever slid him down to No 52 last year - but it would have been good enough for many.

Coria, who turns 23 tomorrow, must be a frustrating opponent. Repeatedly, Schalken seemed to have a point won, only to find the ball looping back over the net.

In an aceless match, it took Schalken five attempts to hold serve as the little Argentine had all the answers in the first set.

Schalken played some rasping shots but slipped up at critical moments.

His game relies on smooth rhythm, and he hit the odd bum note just when he needed to stay in the point.

But Coria was relentless, producing sharply angled shots, and when he went to the net, he was never less than clinical, and occasionally superb.

"I told myself I was 6-0 down but I was not playing badly," Schalken said of the first set.

"I just had to hit five winners for every point."

Coria takes small steps between points but has a huge appetite for success and plays like a man with a steel-trap mind. That, combined with superb court coverage, is a tough act to topple.

Schalken, who won the Auckland title in 1999, had his big opening in the seventh game of the second set.

He had four break points on Coria's serve but muffed the lot.

Coria seized his chance against the dispirited Dutchman, broke his next serve and it was all over after 1h 13m.

There were whispers before the match that Coria was struggling with a back complaint. You would never have guessed.

"I didn't sleep very well last night," he said, "but I am very happy about the level of my play today, especially if you think of the troubles I've had lately and recovering from difficult surgery."

That shoulder problem sidelined Coria for three months last year as he worked himself back to full fitness in Barcelona.

"It looks like that is starting to pay back," he said, adding that he was still short of his best, which was about the time of the French Open at Roland Garros last May, when he looked unstoppable before going down to compatriot Gaston Gaudio in a dramatic five-set final.

"I felt short of confidence at some moments and to get back to the level of Roland Garros I need to stay more focused for the whole match."

In today's second round, Coria plays Frenchman Cyril Saulnier, who beat him in straight sets at last year's Australian Open.

"He's very aggressive and it will be a nice test of my confidence," Coria said.

Schalken reckoned "not many players would beat me if I played like today". Then again, as he conceded, Coria is not like most other players.